Garment hanger forming machine



April 19, 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE l0 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 29, 1948 .Nw oow N 5 4% on w 8. g mm. 2. mw. 6. l 0 II I II I. II II. m m 8 v0.

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HTTUPNE'I April 19, 1955 Filed Nov. 29, 1948 C. M. TOWNSEND ETAL GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS CLfll/D' 1V!- TOWNSEND ELDON M. (U/LSON April 19, 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 IBI l'll

IN VEN TORS' 6219006 197. 7U60N6'E'N0 5400M M. WILSON April 1 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND EIAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS CLHUDE' M. TUMNSE'ND ELDON M. WILSON p i 19, 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Shets-Sheet 5 IN VEN T0 CLHUDE M 7Z7IUN $9. 6, 6:00 M, wlgsou April 19, 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS EZOON M. WILSON cmuaE M. museum April l955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 IN VEN TORS 4Q 7TOENEV April 19, 1955 V c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov, 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 BY a April 19, 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 FTTOENEV April 1955 c. M. TOWNSEND ETAL 2,706,501

GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Filed Nov. 29, 1948 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 INVENTORS 62/71/06 M. rowusewo ELDON 40/450 United States Patent GARMENT HANGER FORMING MACHINE Claude M. Townsend, Huntington Park, and Eldon M. Wilson, La Canada, Calif., assignors to Garment Hanger Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a partnership Application November 29, 1948, Serial No. 62,542

19 Claims. (Cl. 14081.5)

This invention relates to a machine for forming wire garment hangers.

Wire coat hangers are now in extensive use, particularly by cleaning establishments. Since such establishments, when the garments are delivered, furnish hangers as well, it is essential that these hangers be produced and sold to the cleaning establishments at very low cost. The ordinary wire hanger, made from a single piece of wire, is admirably suited for large-scale production at low cost.

The hook portion of hangers made in this fashion is made so that it can be hooked over a rod or pole. The garment thus hangs in a definite position with respect to the pole. A complete inspection of the garment from all sides is obtainable only by removing the hook from the rod or pole.

In order to permit complete inspection of the garment without removing the hook from the pole or rod, some garment hangers (especially wooden hangers) are provided with swivelled hooks. For example, the shank of the hook may be rotatably supported in the top portion of the hanger proper. By this means the hook can be kept in engagement with the pole, and yet the garment with the hanger can be turned completely around.

Garment hangers with swivelled hooks have not found favor with cleaning establishments because of their prohibitive cost. Accordingly, the simple one-piece wire hanger is almost universally used by these establishments.

It is one of the objects of this invention to provide inexpensive wire hangers of the swivel hook type.

It is another object of this invention to provide a wireforming and bending machine that inexpensively fabricates wire garment hangers having swivel hooks.

In order to accomplish these results, the hook is formed from a wire separate from the body of the hanger; and the shank of the hooks is rotatably retained by the body portion of the hanger by twisting the ends of the wire for the hanger around the hook.

It is, accordingly, another object of this inventlon to form the complete hanger with the hook by first twisting the wire of the hanger around the shank of the hook.

The shank of the hook and the hook itself are formed of a single straight wire. It is still another object of this invention to make it possible in a simple manner to assemble the Wire and the body of the hanger in proper timed relation to the formation of the body of the hanger.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a forming machine incor porating the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary front view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 22 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3, 4, and are sectional views, taken along planes corresponding to lines 3-3, 4-4 and S5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of that portion of the mechanism which is utilized to form the wire utilized for the hook of the garment hanger;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional views, taken respectively i1 l on% planes corresponding to lines 77 and 88 of Fig. 9 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 9, but illustrating another position of the apparatus;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 1212 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 12, but showing another phase of operation of the apparatus;

Fig. 14 is an exploded pictorial view of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 1515 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view, corresponding to a portion of Fig. 15, but illustrating another phase of operation of the machine;

Fig. 17 is an end View, taken from a plane corresponding to line 1717 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 18 is a view similar to Fig. 15, but illustrating a still further phase of operation;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary view, corresponding to a portion of Fig. 18, showing a still further phase of the operation;

Fig. 20 is a view similar to Fig. 19, but illustrating a further step in the operation of the machine;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view, taken along a plane corresponding to line 2121 of Fig. 20;

Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25 are enlarged plan views showing different phases of the operation of the hook-forming mechanism;

Fig. 26 is a pictorial view of a wire garment hanger formed by the aid of the machine; and

Fig. 27 is a front view of part of the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25.

The table 1 forms a part of the main supporting structure 2 that rests upon the floor. This table 1 serves, in turn, as the main support for the operating mechanism of the machine (Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5). This main supporting structure may be appropriately fabricated from structural iron or steel.

Two main hopper structures are provided above the table 1. One hopper structure 3 (Fig. 1) serves to feed relatively long lengths of wire 4 to form the garment hanger body 5, shown most clearly in Fig. 26. The garment hanger body 5 is bent to form a substantially triangular shape. The upper portion of the body terminates in two substantially parallel ends 6 and 7 that are twisted, in a manner to be hereinafter described, about the shank 8 of a separate hook portion 9. The lower bar 10 of the hanger is slightly concave.

The other of the two hopper structures 11 (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 15) accommodates wires 12 that are each ultimately formed as the hook 9. The inner end of the shank 8 is flattened, or is otherwise enlarged, in a manner to be hereinafter described, in order to prevent withdrawal of the shank from the twisted ends 6 and 7. However, when the hanger is completed, the garment body 5 may be angularly moved about the axis of the shank 8 as desired.

Fig. 21 illustrates diagrammatically the position of the wire garment hanger body 5 as it is bent by mechanism illustrated generally at the upper portion of Fig. 1. Since the means for performing these bending operations does not constitute a part of the present invention, it is merely generally indicated in Fig. 1. It may include a plurality of earns 13 attached in spaced relation to a continuously rotated shaft 14. The shaft 14 is appropriately journalled in the standards 15 mounted at the rear edge of the table 1. These cams 13 operate upon appropriate slides 16 having rollers 17, to perform the forming operations.

The shaft 14 may be rotated by bevel gear set 18 operated by another shaft 19 appropriately supported by the standards 20. The shaft 19, in turn, may be rotated from the main reduction gear mechanism 21 through a bevel gear set 22. The reduction gearing 21 may be appropriately supported by the aid of the table 1, and may be connected to an appropriate source of motion, such as an electric motor, or the like.

In addition to the shafts 14 and 19 continuously rotated through the reduction gear 21, the reduction gearing also drives another operating shaft 23, appropriately supported asblby1 the aid of bearing standards 24 mounted on the ta e In turn, shaft 23 also imparts motion through the bevel gear set 25 to another shaft 26, appropriately supported as by the bearing standards 27 on the table 1.

Shaft 19 is provided with a series of cams 28 that operate to cause delivery of Wires 4 in sequence through the bottom of the hopper 3, as well as to perform bending operations upon the hanger body 5. Similarly, shaft 26 is provided with a cam 29 performing a bending operation, as well as cam 30 and mechanism including a link 31 operated by the cam 30 for causing the ends 6 and 7 to be bent in a parallel direction, as illustrated most clearly in Figs. 22, 23, 24 and 25, as well as Fig. 18. A projection 32, formed on the main bending die, serves to guide the ends 6 and 7 in a parallel direction. This element is shown most clearly in Figs. 18 to 25, inclusive.

By the aid of the cams mounted on shaft 23, wires 12 from the hopper 11 are advanced in succession to assume the position indicated in Fig. 18. Each of the wires, as it leaves the hopper 11, is provided with a flattened or enlarged portion 33 that increases its width so that, after the wire ends 6 and 7 are twisted, as shown in Fig. 25, the hook 9 formed by wire 12 is incapable of being removed from the wire hanger body 5.

The twisting of the ends 6 and 7, and the supplying of the wires 12 in succession to succeeding wire hanger bodies 5, is accomplished by the aid of a carrier 34 (Figs. 15, 18 and 19). This carrier 34 is generally cylindrical, and is mounted for sliding movement in the bearing sleeves 35 and 36 (Figs. 15 and 18). These bearing sleeves, in turn, are mounted upon the standards 37 fastened to the table 1. These standards are placed on opposite sides of a slot 38 in table 1, as shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 6, 15, and 18. Cross pieces 39 hold the standards in rigid position.

For performing the twisting operation a pinion 40 is splined to the carrier 34 between standards 37. The manner in which this pinion is operated will be discussed hereinafter. In order to permit the carrier 34 to move axially, it is provided with a keyway 41 (Figs. 15 and 18). The carrier 34 is provided with a central bore 42 which, in this instance, accommodates two lengths of wire 12. The bore is large enough in the lateral direction to permit the enlarged end 33 to move readily into the bore 42. A leaf spring 43 (Figs. 15 and 18) has its ends loosely mounted in appropriate apertures in the side of the radial slot 44 of the carrier 34, and engages the left-hand wire 12 of the carrier 34. In this way frictional restraint is imposed against inadvertent movement of 'the wires 12 once they are positioned in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The loading of the wires 12 into the carrier 34 is accomplished in succession in such manner that one rotation of shaft 23 causes a new wire 12 to be inserted and to urge the right-hand wire to the position shown in Fig. 15. How this is accomplished will now be described.

Wire 12, with an enlarged end 33, is dropped from the bottom hopper 11 to a position where it is substantially axially aligned with the bore 42. For this purpose rests are provided for the wire 12, shown most clearly in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11. There are two rests, each comprising a pair of bars 45. The adjacent ends of the bars 45 are provided with sloping surfaces 46 that converge to form a seat for the wire 12. Each of the bars 45 is mounted upon a pivot pin 47 located on standards 48. Springs 49 are arranged to urge the bars to the position of Fig. 10, and against the stop 50, mounted on the standards 48. One end of each of the springs 49 may be anchored to the lateral pins 51, and the other end of the springs may be anchored to the downwardly depending pins 52 on the corresponding rest member 45.

The pins 51 are shown as projecting from the edge of a support 53 upon which the standards 48 are mounted. This support 53, as shown most clearly in Figs. 7, 8, 11 and 15, is adjustably mounted upon the table 1. In this way it is possible, by adjustment of this support 53, to cause the wire 12 to assume the proper position in alignment with the bore 42 of the carrier 34. Thus, fastening screws 54 pass through clearance slots in the support 53 to permit lateral adjustment; and set screws 55 (Figs. 7 and 15) are provided to adjust the position of the support 53 in a vertical direction.

After the wire 12 assumes the position shown in dotand-dash lines in Fig. 10, the carrier 34 can move inwardly to the position of Fig. 9, and will telescope over the wire 12. This causes the next preceding wire 12 to be urged to the right to reach the active position shown in Fig. 15. In this movement the rests 45 are moved out of the way by the left-hand end of carrier 34 against the tension of springs 49. Then, when the carrier 34 is moved to the position of Fig. 18, it is sufficiently far to the right to permit return of the rests 45 to active position for the reception of a succeeding wire 12.

Movement of the carrier 34 from the inner position of Fig. 15 to the outer active position of Fig. 18 is accomplished by the aid of mechanism shown most clearly in Figs. 1, 4 and 5.

Thus, the right-hand end of carrier 34 is provided with a square block 56 from which project the pins 57 (see, also, Fig. 15). A collar 106, fastened to the carrier 34, serves to confine this block 56 against the enlarged head 87 of the wire twister 86 which is rigidly supported at the right-hand end of the carrier 34. These pins are engaged in slots 58 of a fork 59. This fork 59 is pivotally mounted upon a vertical pin 60 (Fig. 1) mounted on a standard 61 attached to the top of table 1. Accordingly, as viewed in Fig. 1, when the fork 59 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction, it will advance the carrier 34 to the position of Fig. 18. This movement is effected by the aid of a bar 62 (Figs. 1, 5 and 6) that is guided in standards 63 mounted on table 1, and also in a downwardly depending leg 64 of the bar 65 attached to the standards 63.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, bar 62 is joined to a vertical, downwardly extending bar 66. This vertical bar 66 carries a roller 67 that is engaged by a cam 68 mounted on shaft 23. The roller 67 is urged against the cam surface by the aid of a tension spring 69 (Fig. 5).

The cam 68 is so arranged that one complete revolution of the shaft 23 will cause a complete reciprocation of the bar 62 and a consequent complete reciprocation of the fork 59. The fork 59 is connected to the bar 62 by the aid of a link 70.

The manner in which the wires 12 are moved forward into the bore 42 may be best explained in connection with Figs. 15, 16 and 18. The beginning of a cycle is illustrated in Figs. 5 and 15. The cam 68 is active to hold the carrier 34 in its extreme left-hand position, and loaded with two lengths of wire 12. After an angular clockwise rotation of slightly over the cam 68 permits the bar 62 to travel outwardly and the carrier 34 is moved to the position corresponding to Fig. 18. A further rotation of about brings the carrier 34 back to the position of Fig. 15. An intermediate position is illustrated in Fig. 16. During the period that the carrier 34 is in the right-hand position of Fig. 18, a new wire 12 is dropped from the hopper 11 upon the rests 45. Since the righthand wire 12 in the carrier 34 is retained by the twisted ends 6 and 7 of the wire garment hanger body 5, movement of the carrier 34 to the left causes the engagement of the wire 12 that rests upon the rests 45 with the lefthand end of the remaining wire in the carrier 34. The wire 12 on the rests 45 is urged to a definite set position by the aid of mechanism illustrated in Figs. 15 and 16.

Thus, mounted upon the support 53 is a standard 71 in which is secured a bearing sleeve 72. The axis of this bearing sleeve is coincident with the axis of the carrier 34. Slidable in the sleeve 72 is a long tubular member 73. This tubular member 73 carries a push rod 74. In order to join the push rod 74 to the tubular member 73, use is made of a set screw 75 that passes through the tubular member 73, as well as the hub of a cam follower 76. The hub telescopes within the tubular member 73. A cam 77, mounted on shaft 23, urges the plunger 74 and its supports toward the right as the shaft 23 rotates. This cam is so timed that the plunger 74 is in its extreme right-hand position at the beginning of the cycle illustrated in Fig. 15.

In order to hold the cam follower 76 against the cam 77, use is made of a tension spring 78 that is anchored to a pin 79 mounted on the follower 76. The other end of the spring may be appropriately mounted upon a station- 313a hanger 80 projecting from the hopper 11 (Figs. 1 an 6).

The plunger 74 also extends through a supplemental guide 81 The extent of sliding movement is limited by the aid of set screw 82 in the tubular member 73 and the slot 83 on the periphery of member 81. A compression spring 84, located within the hollow tubular member 73, urges the supplemental guide 81 toward the right.

In the retracted position of the cam follower 76 and the push rod 74, the compression spring 73 urges the supplemental guide 81 to its extreme right-hand position. However, after the cam 77 rotates and pushes rod 74 toward the right, the supplemental guide 81 contacts the left-hand side of carrier 34, and further right-hand movement of the supplemental guide 81 is prevented. Thereafter, the push rod 74 continues its movement and spring 84 is compressed to the position illustrated in Fig. 15.

By this mechanism the adjacent faces of guide 81 and carrier 34 are brought into contact and form a substantially continuous support for the pusher 74. The pusher 74 is furthermore guided by the bevelled opening 85 leading to the bore 42. In the beginning position of Fig. 15, the push rod 74 is in its extreme right-hand position, and the left-hand wire 12 has been pushed inwardly slightly beyond the left-hand side of the carrier 34. As the cam 77 recedes from the follower 76, the carrier, as illustrated in Fig. 16, is left momentarily stationary; but, when roller 67 recedes from the high point of cam 68' (Fig. 5), the spring 69 causes movement of the carrier 34 ultimately to the position of Fig. 18. In this position the carrier 34 leaves the rests 45 which return under the influence of springs 49 to receive a succeeding wire 12. The movement of the pusher mechanism to advance the succeeding rod is effected, however, by the rotation of cam 77, while carrier 34 is in the retracted position of Fig. 15. Fig. 18 illustrates the extreme left-hand position of the pusher mechanism in which a new wire 12 may be dropped on res-ts 45.

The carrier 34 is maintained in the position of Fig. 18 for a period corresponding to the low portion of cam 68. In this period the twisting of the ends 6 and 7 is accomplished.

In order to perform this twisting operation, the carrier 34 carries the twister member 86 at its extreme righthand end (Figs. 15, 17, 18 and 19). This twister 86 comprises a head 87 and a body member 88 that is tightly fitted in an axial bore in the right-hand portion of the carrier 34. As shown most clearly in Fig. 17, the twister 86 has a central bore 89 and diametrically opposite bores 90 and 91. The central bore 89 is large enough to accommodate the right-hand end of wire 12, and the bores 90 and 91, respectively, accommodate the hanger body ends 6 and 7. In the position of Fig. 18, these ends 6 and 7 project for a substantial distance within the bores 90 and 91, and are in substantial parallel relation but spaced with respect to the wire 12. In order to twist these ends to the configuration of Fig. 29, the carrier 34 is given a number of rotations. The resultant wrapping around produces the twist 92, illustrated in Fig. 20 and also shown in the diagrams of Figs. 22 to 25, inclusive.

Since the flattened end 33 of the wire 12 abuts the vertical face of projection 32, the twisted portion 92 is spaced beyond this enlarged head.

In order to rotate the carrier 34, use is made of the pinion 40 which is splined to the carrier 34. This pinion 40 is driven by a gear wheel 93 (see, particularly, Figs. 1, 2 and 4). This gear wheel 93 is appropriately rotatably supported on the standards 95 fastened to the lower surface of the table 1. A connecting rod 96 is pivotally mounted on a crank pin structure 97 of the wheel 93, and projects through slot 38. The other end of the connecting rod 96 is similarly pivoted to the end of a bar 98 that is guided for sliding movement by the standards 99 mounted on the table 1. This bar 98 carries at its lefthand forked end a cam follower roller 100 that is actuated by a cam 101 mounted on shaft 26. A tension spring 102 urges the roller 100 against the cam 101. This spring 102 is anchored at its right-hand end to the extension 103 of the crank pin structure 104 of the connecting rod 96. The left-hand end of the spring 102 is joined to an anchor block 104 mounted on table 1.

Cam 101 is so arranged that it causes actuation of the gear wheel 93 during the period that the carrier 34 is in the extreme right-hand position of Fig. 18. Upon the that is slidable within the tubular member 73.

completion of the twisting operation, the cams cause the return of the apparatus to the starting position of Figs. 1 and 15. As shown most clearly in Fig. 17, the recesses or apertures and 91 which accommodate the ends 6 and 7 of the wire garment hanger body 5 are arranged on axes spaced from the axis of the central bore 89 which accommodates the wire 12. The line passing through the axes of these recesses 90 and 91 is oblique to the vertical. In this way these apertures 90 and 91 accurately register with the ends 6 and 7, the end 6 being slightly elevated above the end 7 by appropriate forming means provided by that portion of the forming apparatus which fabr'icates the body portion 5. In order further to assist the entry of these ends into the recesses 90 and 91, they are provided with diverging countersunk portions 105 acting as guides.

The manner in which the flattened or enlarged end 33 is formed on the wires 12 before they are deposited upon the rests 45 may be most readily explained by the aid of Figs. 6, 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14. The hopper 11 includes a frame having the end walls 107 and 108 appropriately attached to the table 1. Transverse bars 109 extend between the walls 107 and 108 adjacent the top thereof. These bars provide supports for the converging wire guides 110. The lower ends of these guides 110 terminate in parallel extensions 111. These extensions form a narrow space corresponding to the diameter of the wire 12; and, in this way, the wires are fed downwardly between the extensions 111 to the forming apparatus. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 illustrate only a few wires 12, but it is to be understood that the hopper defined by the bars 110 may be filled with lengths of wire substantially to the top of the hopper structure. The bars 110 (Fig. 6) form an open cage, also shown clearly in Fig. 15.

The distance between the walls 107 and 108 (Fig. 15) is somewhat greater than the length of the wires 12. In order to define a space substantially corresponding to the length of the wires, use is made of a pair of sheet metal ends 112 which converge inwardly. These ends are omitted from Figs. 7 and 8 for the sake of clarity.

Disposed beneath the discharge opening formed by the extensions 111 is a rotary member 113 (Figs. 7, 8, 12, 13, 14 and 15 This rotary member has a cylindrical external periphery provided with longitudinally extending peripheral recesses 114. These recesses 114 are equiangularly spaced; for'example, there arefour such recesses which are interrupted by a pair of annular grooves 115. Adjacent one end of the member 113 there is a collar 116. Adjacent to the collar 116 is an annular shoulder 117 (Figs. 12, 13, and 14). This annular shoulder has a diameter greater than the diameter of the bottom of the grooves 115. A wider annular groove 118 adjoins the shoulder 117.

By mechanism to be hereafter described, the member 113 is advanced in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 7 and 8, so as to register a recess 114 in succession with the hopper discharge opening. One wire 12 at a time drops into the uppermost recess 114. In a succeeding 90 movement of member 113, this wire 12 is brought to a position indicated in Figs. 12 and 13. In.

this position the upper end of wire 12, as viewed in Figs. 12 and 13, rests upon the annular shoulder 17, and the lower end of the wire is in contact with the bottom of the recess 114. This annular shoulder. forms an anvil against which the contacting end of the wires 12 may be urged to produce the flattened or enlarged end 33. This flattening is accomplished by the aid of a hammer member 119. The hammer member 119 is generally cylindrical, and it carries a projection 120 that performs the flattening operation, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 13.

After this flattening operation is completed, the rotary member 113 is given another movement of 90, dropping the wire 12 upon the rests 45.

In order to make it possible to move the member 113 through a quarter-revolution at a time, this member 113 is keyed to a shaft 121. This shaft 121, as shown most clearly in Fig. 15, is appropriately journalled in the end walls 107 and 108. It extends beyond wall 108 and carries a notched collar 122. Notches 123 of this collar are spaced annularly, corresponding to the recesses 114 (Fig. 2). Cooperating with these notches is an indexing pin 124 (Fig. 6) which is slidably mounted in the bracket 125 attached to the wall 108. This pin has a tapered point adapted to extend into a notch 123. It is urged to en- 7 gaging position by a compression spring 126 mounted in the bore 127 in which the pin 124 slides.

This indexing pin assures accurate registry of the reces'ses 114 at the loading station and at the hammering or enlarging station.

A spacing collar 128 is mounted on the shaft 121 to the left of the collar 122, as viewed in Fig. 15.

In order to move the member 113 cyclically through a quarter-revolution, use is made of a pawl and ratchet mechanism. A ratchet wheel 129 is mounted at the extreme left-hand end of the shaft 121, as viewed in Fig. 15. As shown most clearly in Fig. 2, a pawl 130 engages the ratchet wheel 129. This pawl is pivotally mounted on a rod 131 that is slidably mounted in the bracket 132. The lower portion of the pawl 130 is bifurcated to embrace the rod 131. The lower end of the rod 131 is in contact with a cam 133 mounted on shaft 23 (Figs. 2 and 3). Each revolution of the shaft 23 thus causes one actuation of the pawl 130 to advance the ratchet 129 through a quarter-revolution.

The rod 131 carries a cylindrical head 134 adapted to rest upon the top of bracket 132. In order to ensure against angular movement of the rod 131, a guiding post 135 is provided, attached to the bracket 132 and extending upwardly through the collar 134. Accordingly, the collar 134 is restricted to axial movement only.

The post 135 may be provided with a head 136 confining a compression spring 137. When the rod 131 is lifted, the collar 134 comes into contact with the spring 137. This spring also serves to ensure return of the rod 131 to its lowermost position against the cam 133.

The hammer 119, for flattening the end of the rods 12 in the manner illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14, is guided for axial movement in sleeves 138 and 139 (Fig. 12).

Sleeve 138 is supported in a frame 140 (Figs. 7, 8, 12, 13

and 14). This frame 140 is appropriately attached to the end walls 107 and 108 of the hopper structure 11. It provides a concave surface 141 that closely surrounds the member 113 and thereby prevents inadvertent movement of the wires 12 out of recesses 114 as they are angularly carried around by the member 113. The lower portion of the arcuate surface 141 may be interrupted, as shown most clearly in Fig. 14.

The other guiding sleeve 139 is provided in the bar 142 extending between the end walls 107 and 108. In order to restrain the hammer member 119 against angular movement, it is provided with a keyway 143 (Figs. 8 and 12) into which projects the spline 144 fastened to the inner surface of the bar 142.

Reciprocating movement of the hammer member 119 is effected by a cam mechanism driven by the main shaft 23. A cam bar 145 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) is movable in a direction normal to the movement of hammer 118. It is provided with a cam surface 146 that cooperates with the roller 147 (see, also, Fig. 12) rotatably mounted in the head 148 of the hammer 119. When, as viewed in Fig. 6, the cam bar 145 is moved upwardly, the cam surface 146 coacts with the roller 147 to urge the hammer 119 toward the right.

Guiding of the bar is effected by the aid of a bracket 149 which is mounted on the bar 142. This bracket 149 has a rectangular slot 150, in the right-hand end of which the bar 145 is movable. In order further to guide the bar, the left-hand surface of the bar is in contact with a roller 1S1 (Figs. 6 and 8). This roller 151 is rotatably mounted in the bifurcated end of a lever 152 that projects into slot 150. This lever 152 is pivotally mounted by the aid of the cross pin 153 which projects across the slot 150. It is held against the left-hand surface of the bar 145 by the aid of an adjusting screw 154. This adjusting screw is mounted in a supplemental bracket member 155 mounted upon the left-hand side of the bracket 149.

Thus, the movement of cam bar 145 in a horizontal direction is restricted by the roller 151; and, as the bar moves to bring the cam surface 146 against the roller 147, this cam surface thus causes a definite movement of the hammer 119. The extent of this movement is controlled by the setting of the screw 154. A tension spring 156 (Fig. 4) urges the cam bar 145 downwardly, as viewed in Fig. 6; that is, toward disengaging position. One end of the spring 156 is mounted on the pin 157 attached to the top of bracket 149. The other end is attached to a pin 158 carried by the end of the bar 145. The roller 147 and the hammer 119 are similarly urged against the cam surface 146 by a tension spring 159 (Figs. 2 and 6). This tension spring has its righthand end attached to a post 160 mounted on the head 148 of the hammer 119. The left-hand end of spring 159 is anchored to a pin 161 mounted on the bar 65.

Actuation of the cam bar 145 is effected by a mechanism shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 6. A bell crank lever 162 is pivoted at its lower end on the standard 163 supported by table 1. One arm of the bell crank lever 162 carries a roller 164 that is actuated by the cam 165 mounted on shaft 23. As the shaft 23 is rotated, the bell crank lever is oscillated through a cycle, once for each revolution. The vertical arm of the bell crank lever carries an adjustable abutment screw 166 that contacts the adjacent end of the bar 145. The screw 166 thus urges the cam bar 145 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, upon actuation of the lever 162. The angular position of cam 165 is such that the hammer 119 is operated shortly after a wire 12 reaches a position adjacent the end of the hammer 119. Further adjustment of the hammer action is available by adjustment of screw 166.

In order to ensure free movement of the wires 12 through the opening defined by the extensions 111 (Figs. 7 and 8) at the end of bars 110 an agitating feeder is provided. This feeder includes a pair of discs 167 (Figs. 6, 7 and 8) attached to reciprocating arms 168. These discs 167, as shown most clearly in Fig. 6, are axially spaced with respect to the shaft 121, and extend into the entrance of the discharge opening between extensions 111. Both of the arms 168 are mounted on a reciprocating shaft 169 (see, also, Fig. 2). This shaft 169 extends forwardly of the hopper structure 11, and carries a cam follower lever 170. The left-hand end of the lever, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, carries a cam follower roller 171. This cam follower roller contacts a cam 172 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) mounted on shaft 23. The cam 172 is shown, in this instance, as having four high points to give a relatively fast reciprocation of the feeder arms 168.

In order to hold the lever 170 so that the roller 171 contacts the cam 172, a leaf spring 181 is firmly attached to the lever 170, as by being inserted in a slot therein (Fig. 2). This leaf spring has an upturned end which contacts the bracket 132 and resiliently urges the lever 170 in a counter-clockwise direction.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 3, 6, 7 and 8, a bracket 173 extends between the end Walls 107 and 108. This bracket includes the inwardly directed arms 174 adjacent its lower end. These arms 174 serve to support the inwardly directed stripper bars 175. These bars engage wire 12 as it approaches a position where it is to be discharged from the rotary member 113. Thence, the wire drops between the projections 176 and 177. Projections 176 are carried at the extremities of the bars 175. Proections 177 are similarly carried by the lower edge of the bracket 140.

Furthermore, the bracket threaded aperture 178 through ing screw 179 (Figs. 6 and 7). The inner end of this ad usting screw engages a bar 180. This bar 180 is attached to extensions 111 that are formed on the righthand pair of bars 110. By adjusting the screw 179, the extent of the discharge opening through these extensions 111 may be adjusted. The right-hand bar 110, as viewed in Fig. 7, has sufficient resiliency to permit this adjustment. The manner in which the hook 9 of the wire hanger 15 formed at the end of the wire 12 is illustrated most clearly in Figs. 1, 22, 23, 24 and 25.

After the ends 6 and 7 are formed into the twisted portron 92 by the means hereinbefore described, a roller 182 is moved toward the right to flex the wire 12 to the pos1t1on illustrated in Fig. 22. This roller is carried by a bar 183 guided in the guides 184 mounted on the table 1. The left-hand end of the bar 183 carries a cam follower roller 185. This roller is maintained in any appropriate manner in contact with the cam 186 driven by the shaft 26. Once during each revolution the bar 183 is reciprocated to perform this hook-forming operation.

The bar 183 also carries a former 187 against which the wire 12 rests.

Shortly after the roller 182 reaches the position of Fig. 22, another former 188 is moved to the position of Fig. 24 through the intermediate position of Fig. 23. This former 188 is arcuate and has wire contacting faces 189'and 190. The former 188 is pivoted on a pin 191 173 is provided with a which extends an adjust:

carried by a bracket 192. It is urged to the position shown in Fig. 23 by a tension spring 193. A stop 194 carried by former 188 engages the lower surface of the member 192. Now, as the former 188 progresses toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 23, the curved surface 195 at the lower portion of the former 188 contacts the wire 12.

The point of contact is considerably below the roller 182; therefore, as the former 188 progresses still further, it bends the wire around the roller and ultimately assumes the position of Fig. 24. At the same time a projection 196, formed integrally with bracket 192, cooperates with the former 188 to define the shank 8.

Movement of the bracket 192 is effected by the aid of a cam mechanism. Thus, the bracket 192 is mounted on a long lever 197 pivoted at its lower corner on the pin 198. The right-hand end of the lever 197 carries a cam follower roller 199 that cooperates with the cam 200 driven by shaft 23. The cam 186 on shaft 26 and cam 200 are so arranged angularly that they perform this forming operation immediately after the carrier 34 is retracted.

By appropriate means the lever 197 and the bar 183 are retracted after the hook 9 is formed, and the completed wire hanger can then be removed from the machine. This stripping action is provided by the aid of pins 202a and kickers 201 (Fig. 27), which are urged downwardly periodically by the aid of the pushers 202 mounted on the rod 203. This rod is pivotally mounted at its ends by the aid of hopper 3. It is reciprocated by the aid of a link 204. This link 204 actuates a crank 205 on rod 203, and is reciprocated by the aid of the cam 206 on shaft 23. The follower roller 207, carried by the link 204, contacts this cam.

When the completed wire hanger is thus stripped from the machine, it is appropriately guided by guide members not shown to an unloading station.

The inventors claim:

1. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a longitudinally movable wire carrier adapted to be supplied with wire the wire extendlng in the direction of movement of said carrier; rotary means carried by said carrier, the axis of rotation being along the longitudinal axis of the wire; said rotary means having provisions for holding spaced ends of a wire hanger-body; means for moving said carrier into wire end engaging posltion; and means for rotating the rotary means for twisting the ends around the length of wire.

2. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a movable member having a recess for the accommodation of a length of wire; means intermittently advancing the member in a direction transverse to the wire to definite positions; a longitudinally movable wire carrler; means for discharging the wire from the movable member to said carrier; rotary means carried by said carrier, the axis of rotation being along the longitudinal axis of the wire; said rotary means having provisions for holding spaced ends of a wire hanger body; means for long1tu dinally moving said carrier into wire end engaging position; and means for rotating the rotary means for twisting the ends around the length of wire end.

3. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a movable member having a recess for the accommodation of a length of wire; means intermittently advancing the member in a direction transverse to the wire to definite positions; means for enlarging one end of the wlre while the member is in one of said positions; a longitudinally movable wire carrier; means for discharging the wire from the movable member to said carrier; rotary means carried by said carrier, the axis of rotation being along the longitudinal axis of the wire; said rotary means having provisions for holding spaced ends of a w1re hanger body; means for longitudinally moving said carr er into wire end engaging position; and means for rotating the rotary means for twisting the ends around the length of wire; said twisting being such as to prevent the enlarged end from passing through the twisted ends.

4. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a rotary member having a plurality of peripheral recesses for the accommodation of lengths of wire; said recesses being uniformly spaced; means for supplying a length of wire in succession to said recesses; means for intermittently advancing said member ultimately to a discharging station; means for enlarging one end of the wire prior to discharge of the wire; a longitudinally movable wire carrier; means for discharging the wire from the movable member to said carrier; rotary means carried by said carrier, the axis of rotation being along the longitudinal axis of the wire; said rotary means having provisions for holding spaced ends of a wire hanger body; means for longitudinally moving said carrier into engaging position with said ends; and means for rotating the rotary means for twisting the ends around the length of wire; said twisting being such as to prevent the enlarged end from passing through the twisted ends.

5. In a machine for forming Wire garment hangers: a rotary member having a recess for the accommodation of a length of Wire; means for supplying a wire to the recess; means intermittently advancing the member angularly to definite positions; means for enlarging one end of the wire while the member is in one of said positions; a longitudinally movable wire carrier; means for discharging the wire from the movable member to said carrier; rotary means carried by said carrier, the axis of rotation being along the longitudinal axis of the wire; said rotary means having provisions for holding spaced ends of a wire hanger body; means for longitudinally moving said carrier into wire end engaging position; and means for rotating the rotary means for twisting the ends around the length of wire; said twisting being such as to prevent the enlarged end from passing through the twisted ends.

6. In a machine for forming Wire garment hangers: means forming a length of Wire with an enlarged end; a rest for the wire; means for depositing said length on the rest; means yieldingly holding the rest in wire receiving position; a wire carrier having a recess for the wire and movable in either direction longitudinally of the wire for causing the wire to be received in said carrier; a wire twister carried by the carrier and having provisions for engaging spaced ends of a garment hanger body; means acting to bring the wire twister and the loaded carrier into cooperative relation to the spaced ends; and means for rotating said twister for twisting said ends around the end of the wire carried by the wire carrier.

7. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: means forming a length of wire with an enlarged end; a plurality of longitudinally spaced rests for the wire; means for depositing said length on the rest; a tubular wire carrier longitudinally movable to telescope over the wire; means for yieldingly mounting said rests; means for moving the carrier to cause the rests to move in succession to inactive positions and to cause the wire on the rest to be received by the carrier; a rotary wire twister carried by the carrier for engaging the spaced ends of a wire garment hanger body; said twister having spaced sockets longitudinally arranged on opposite sides of the enlarged end; and means for rotating said twister.

8. In a machine for forming Wire garment hangers: means forming a length of wire with an enlarged end; a rest for the wire; means for depositing said length on the rest; means yieldingly holding the rest in wire receiving position; a wire carrier having a recess for the wire; means for moving the carrier in either direction longitudinally of the wire for receiving the wire; a wire twister carried by the carrier, having spaced sockets longitudinally arranged on opposite sides of the enlarged end; and means for rotating said twister.

9. In a machine of the character described: a plurality of spaced pairs of bars, each pair providing cooperating top surfaces for a length of wire; a pivotal mounting for each bar, the axis of the pivot being transverse to the direction of the wire; resiilent means for urging the bars to active position; means limiting movement of the bars under the influence of said resilient means; a carrier movable longitudinally of the wire; means for moving said carrier; said carrier having a recess for receiving the wire when the carrier is moved in a telescoping direction, said carrier then moving the bars against the resilient means; and means for urging the wire to a predetermined extent into the recess.

10. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a plurality of spaced pairs of bars, each pair providing cooperating top surfaces for a length of wire; a pivotal mounting for each bar, the axis of the pivot being trans verse to the direction of the wire; resilient means for urging the bars to active position; means limiting movement of the bars under the influence of said resilient means; a carrier movable longitudinally of the wire, said carrier having a recess for receiving the wire when the carrier is moved in a telescoping direction, said carrier then moving the bars against the resilient means; means for urging the wire to a predetermined extent into the recess; a wire twister rotatably mounted on the carrier, and having a pair of spaced parallel sockets for the accommodation of the ends of a wire hanger body; means for moving the carrier to move the twister 1nt o engagement with said ends; and means for rotating said twister.

11. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: a tubular carrier for a length of wire; said carrier having an axial recess for the reception of the wire; means for longitudinally moving the carrier; means for rotat ng the carrier; and a wire twister mounted on the carr er and having recesses parallel to the axis of the carrier and spaced on opposite sides thereof, for receiving and twisting the ends of a wire garment hanger body.

12. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: means for enlarging the end of a length of wire; a carrier for the wire; means for successively operatlng said enlarging means; means for feeding the wire with the enlarged end to the carrier; means for brlngmgthe carrier to a position where the enlarged end pro ect s between a pair of parallel wires; and means for twistlng the parallel wires around the wire in the carrier and beyond the enlarged end; said twisting being such as to prevent the enlarged end from passing through the twisted ends.

13. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: means for enlarging the end of a length of wire; a carrier for the wire; means for operating said enlarging means; means for successively feeding the wire with the enlarged end to the carrier; means for bringing the carrier to a position where the enlarged end projects between a pair of parallel wires; and means for twisting the parallel wires around the wire in the carrier and beyond the enlarged end, comprising a rotary wire twister mounted on the carrier and having sockets for the accommodation of the parallel wires; said twisting being such as to prevent the enlarged end from passing through the twisted ends.

14. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: means for clamping a wire body having a wire length from which a hook may be formed; a cylindrical member movable transversely of said length for engaging said length; means for moving said cylindrical member; the axis of said member being transverse to the wire; a former movable transversely of said wire to engage the wire beyond said cylindrical member and on the opposite side of said length; a pivotal mounting for said former, the axis being transverse to the wire length; means for moving the mounting toward the wire; a stop for limiting angular movement of the former to an operating position; and resilient means urging the former to said position; said former moving angularly from the stop as the former moves against the wire.

15. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers: means clamping a wire body having a wire length from which a hook may be formed; a cylindrical member movable transversely of said length for engaging said length; means for moving said cylindrical member; the axis of the member being transverse to the wire; a former movable transversely of said wire to engage the wire beyond said cylindrical member and on the opposite side of said length; a pivotal mounting for said former, the axis being transverse to the wire length; means for moving the mounting toward the wire; a stopfor limiting angular movement of the former to an operating position; resilient means urging the former to said position; said former moving angularly from the stop as the former moves against the wire; and an arm carried by the former and engaging the wire length against the cylindrical member at a place substantially diametrically opposite the cylindrical member.

16. In a machine of the character described: yielding rests upon which a length of wire may be supported; a carrier having a central bore aligned with the wire;

means for moving the carrier over the wire; a pusher means movable into the bore for urging the wire inwardly of the carrier; a guide for said pusher means, adapted to contact the end of the carrier; a reciprocable support for the pusher and the guide; and resilient means urging the guide against the end of the carrier as said support moves toward the carrier.

17. In apparatus for attaching to a wire hanger frame, a wire hook portion, said frame having a pair of free spaced parallel ends where the wire hook portion is to be attached: means supporting said frame so that the parallel ends are exposed; means for carrying a length of wire; means moving said wire longitudinally from the carrying means, so that one end of the wire is disposed between the free ends, said one end being enlarged; means for engaging the parallel ends; means for moving said engaging means into engaging position; and means for rotating said engaging means for twisting the ends around the wire.

18. In apparatus for attaching to a wire hanger frame, a wire hook portion, said frame having a pair of free spaced parallel ends where the wire hook portion is to be attached: means supporting said frame so that the parallel ends are exposed; means for carrying a length of wire; means moving said wire longitudinally from the carrying means, so that one end of the wire is disposed between the free ends, said one end being enlarged; means for engaging the parallel ends; means for moving said engaging means into engaging position; means for rotating said engaging means for twisting the ends around the wire; and means for forming a hook at the other end of the wire.

19. In a machine for forming wire garment hangers; means clamping a wire body having a length from which a hook may be formed; a cylindrical member for engaging the wire; the axis of the member being transverse to the wire; means for moving the cylindrical member transversely of the wire so that the wire is engaged by the periphery of the member; a former having spaced arms to engage the wire on opposite sides of the cylindrical member; a pivotal mounting for the former, the axis of the pivot being parallel to the axis of the cylindrical member; means for moving the former toward the cylindrical member; a stop for limiting angular movement of the former to an operating position; and resilient means urging the former to said position; said former moving angularly from the stop as the former moves against the wire; the spaced arms serving to bend the wire around the cylindrical member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 161,240 Kingman Mar. 23, 1875 281,961 Berry July 24, 1883 711,303 Frederick Oct. 14, 1902 1,072,465 Hyslop Sept. 9, 1913 1,103,434 Richey July 14, 1914 1,235,277 Alexander July 31, 1917 1,287,777 Sommer Dec. 17, 1918 1,294,091 Greene Feb. 11, 1919 1,334,086 Finkelstein Mar. 16, 1920 1,488,850 Van Orman Apr. 1, 1924 1,488,996 McDonnell Apr. 1, 1924 1,607,455 Griswold Nov. 16, 1926 1,616,452 Knable Feb. 8, 1927 1,616,453 Knable Feb. 8, 1927 1,695,603 Magidson Dec. 18, 1928 1,906,741 Coney May 2, 1933 1,968,305 Moore July 31, 1934 2,035,658 Lewis Mar. 31, 1936 2,041,805 Backer May 26, 1936 2,074,789 Hopkins Mar. 23, 1937 2,075,826 Nolan Apr. 6, 1937 2,370,313 Isaak Feb. 27, 1945 2,375,161 Young May 1, 1945 

